Respighi/Verdi
Published:
COMPOSERS: Respighi/Verdi
LABELS: Decca
WORKS: Roman Festivals; Pines of Rome; The Four Seasons
PERFORMER: Cleveland Orchestra/Lorin Maazel
CATALOGUE NO: 425 052-2 ADD (1975/77)
The Respighi items have plenty of ceremony and bustling excitement, but they are not immune from mishap – shaky ensemble, variable balance and the odd spot of unstable tempo. The sound, too, would have benefited from a sharper focus. Good, but less impressive than Bátiz and the RPO on the Naxos label. Verdi’s Four Seasons (yes, Verdi’s) are enchanting – clear, sparkling, crisp and bright, in the maestro’s best bandstand manner. They make the disc worth having. Wadham Sutton